Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Another glass is half full blog: 2018 most meaningless words


   As the end of this tumult-filled year approaches I am more distressed than usual about the misuse of words & meanings adapted to fit some print and cable media views, that point vastly in favor of our glass is half empty.
   As the definition of values notes, this is a most subjective word and validates my frustration about using this somewhat “everybody’s” word to talk about whatever political hatchet the writer is wielding to make the point.
   I say find a better word to make your point OR better yet, stop using this most useless in the past decade word, values.

   Since I used the implication of a significant number of words that are most meaningless, I am compelled to add another, although I am only commenting about this cross use of words to be a talking point for political gain and glory, in disgust about everyone’s “in power” commentary corruption, now extending to words and meanings, deliberately tailored to fit into a political trope of oeuvre.

   Another meaningless foray into the subjective of discourse that dominates the political reportage, of various hate and destroy politics factions aimed at power-grabbing the highest office in this USA land in 2020, is the word lie.
   Oddly, this lie word is defined peculiarly too.
   Lie is defined by its grammatical distinction, either a verb, noun, or intransitive verb, and thus this word is so subjective that media advantages the noun as if this is the only definition, and thus makes it apparent that in this 21st century, the norm of respect for words and meanings is another “gone girl” or “gone boy” or “gone LGBTQ,” is written proof that I have done homage to the wise elites who demand I write only in politically correct verbiage.
   If I don’t do what the powers want, then my blog platform will be obliterated by this obliging host.

   Now I can tell you the oft imaginary reader of my preceding vent that I am not angry.
   I am disgusted and feel forced to watch “romance” themed movies on the Hallmark channel, even though I know this fictional wishful thinking about the reality, isn’t about humanity’s inevitable progress toward the Roman age of ennui.
   The so-called “Huns” who were illiterate and invading that did destroy the Romans was produced by cultural excess in the worst of pursuits toward pleasure, no mater how disgusting and perverted, once again subjectively according to one’s way of thinking.

   In the meanwhile as we expect to ring in 2019, I shall know that I did my blog duty to shrill my dismay, nevertheless, to one all a better new year.    

Sunday, October 7, 2018

"news"


   I’m still a New York Times “Book Review” section reader, even though in this political climate of disagreements this is a review of books often turned political—and I was fascinated by the Sunday, September 23rd review of the book, A Chill in the Air by Iris Origo delineating her diary impressions of wartime Italy as reviewed by Alexander Stille, especially the last paragraph of his sense of what Ms. Origo is noting as a final conclusion about moving a country not normally interested in war to a state of war.
   Stille is the reviewer of a book that is essentially a diary kept prior to the 2nd world war by someone who lived in Italy, who has read the book, and I haven’t, writes, “Origo notes that as the Fascist regime nudges Italy toward war, there is a careful psychological preparation: Supposedly scientific articles on the negative effects of coffee and meat appear weeks before the government will ration the sales of those items…”
   The above statement written in Ms. Origo’s diary according to Stille pertains to “news” reported in the Italian newspapers.

   I felt a chill of apprehension that relates to the current “main stream media” reports about news that they want to report and no reports about news they don’t want to  report.
  And I also felt a chill when I read the last portion of Stille’s commentary, …”Origo poses a question that seems deeply important in this time of resurgent nationalism: ‘is it possible to move a country to war, against it’s historical traditions, against the natural instincts and character of the majority of its inhabitants, and very possible against its own interests? Apparently it is possible.”

   Let me make clear, the chill I felt has nothing to do with Stille’s  claim of “in this time of resurgent nationalism.
   The chill I feel is what Stille says Ms. Origo wrote in her diary that pertains to “news” printed in Italian newspapers: “Origo notes that as the Fascist regime nudges Italy toward war, there is a careful psychological preparation” Supposedly scientific articles on the negative effects of coffee and meat appear weeks before the government will ration those items…”

   I shiver and feel the terrible apprehension of how in these times of “fake” news as POTUS 45 describes it, or as Ms. Origo says according to reviewer Stille, “there is a careful psychological preparation,” especially when articles in 2018 are written quoting “anonymous” sources that turn out to be half true, not true & downright false, or copious investigations about 45’s financial history, some 15,000 words reprinted not 1 time but a 2nd time in The New York Times.
   One more comment about “the grey lady’s” copious financial documentary about 45’s father, long deceased who worked with IRS and used IRS and NYC and NYState tax laws at that time, which all including the former Mayor of NYC, M. J. Bloomberg still use in 2018 to evade the tax burden: Wouldn’t this 15,000 word article be a psychological preparation for the Democrat control of congress and the “impeachment of POTUS 45?

   Perhaps another “psychological” preparation for what’s coming is Goggle sponsored heavily cable media advertised so-called impartial news app “Smart News.”
   What the behavioral psychologists have discovered that “chants” and “instruction” repeated by persons listening” does have a chilling effect to accomplish brain change.

   I ask you, do you want your brain and thought process changed to please someone in charge who knows better than you?








Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Rallying words


   Even prior to the 21st century rallying words were important, for instance in France the word solidarity was and still is used for the public to support the national interest, like the process of striking, and to allow the unions to walk out even when public transportation and basic services were curtailed, all with government sponsorship.
   Now in this contentious US 2018 partisan tribal politics making use of certain rallying words by political parties bring out certain groups to support their causes.
   For example, when addressing the intended audience to persuade for the purpose of becoming members of their political party, the Democrats use the words racist, homophobic, to address the issues that are part and parcel of their stated political concerns.
   The Republicans use the words socialist, leftist to disparage persons that are not in sync with the political views of those who do not aspire to join in support of the party’s view of the national good.

   What is most disturbing to me is the fact that globally and in the US, the political parties and politicians are not interested in having a national discussion about issues that are concerning many voters.
   The political parties and politicians encourage voters to discard the dictionary meaning of the rallying words they use.
   Global politicians no matter what the country use rallying words like dog whistles to bring the like minded together.
   Rallying words used by political parties and politicians in the US makes for the climate of a political divide that is becoming polarizing and spurring hatred, even violence against anyone who is on the opposite political spectrum.

   Yet, what is reassuring to me is that history shows the early part of a century mires the world in a series of upheavals.
   Violence and polarization is part of the historical context and small wars caused by countries that are seeking to expand economically, then finally a global war of sorts that align countries with similar economic interests to dominate the world.
   Oddly, terror is a tactic used throughout the millenniums, and it’s usually part of the realigning for the civilizations that seek world dominance.

   Using US history as my guide, I feel comfortable in making some US political assessments, if not outright predictions.
   When it comes to the current 2018 US political divide, many depend on polls, movements of women joined together to achieve a certain political result, LGBT’s push for recognition, the racial divide, but I chose to look at what has historically happened in the US.
   Our nation has overcome this and even a civil war, I have faith that our system of democracy will survive.
   Democracy survives when voters use their vote wisely.